Part 1The Forgotten Vows

My memory reset to ten years ago.

When my mom told me my ex-husband, Sebastian Thorne, already had a fiancée, and my son, Leo, called another woman "Mom"...

Me: ?

"Are you kidding? I'm the fiancée of the Thorne family's golden boy, Alexander. How could I have married the family's bastard son? And have a rude kid with him? Do I not care about my reputation? How will I show my face in high society?"

As soon as I finished speaking, I turned around.

The father and son were staring at me, eyes red with anger.

* * *

The second year after my divorce from Sebastian.

My family went bankrupt. My dad was diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Before he died, he wanted to see his grandson, Leo, one last time. But Sebastian held full custody.

I called Sebastian countless times before he finally answered.

Hearing my request, he just scoffed.

"Leo is busy with chess club. Why don't you ask your fiancé to be the dutiful son-in-law?"

The fiancé he mentioned was Alexander Thorne. His half-brother.

Alexander was the golden boy of the Thorne dynasty, the chosen one. Sebastian was the illegitimate son, unacknowledged and despised.

Growing up, he had no money, no status. Until three years ago, when Alexander ended up in a coma after an accident.

Only then did Sebastian gain control of Thorne Enterprises.

He hated Alexander deeply. Back then, he only pursued and married me because I was Alexander's fiancée.

He once told me to my face:

"Marrying Chloe was just a means to an end. It wasn't love."

So, I didn't understand why he was bringing up my past with Alexander now. Maybe he just didn't want to grant my father his dying wish.

"Please... I'm begging you."

For my dad, I would have knelt and begged.

He was silent for a long time.

Finally, he spoke, voice void of emotion.

"I'll ask for Leo's opinion."

A moment later, a childish voice came through the phone:

"Can we go tomorrow? We agreed to pick up Auntie Sarah at the airport today."

"Auntie Sarah" was Sarah Miller, Sebastian's first love. The one he called "the person I wronged the most in this life."

To get revenge and marry me, Sebastian abandoned her.

How nice.

Before we even divorced, they had rekindled their romance. Even the son I endured so much pain to birth was on their side.

Thinking of this, I felt a bitter irony.

I didn't even notice the call had ended.

That day, my dad passed away with regret.

The day after my dad died, overwhelmed with grief, I got into a car accident.

When I woke up, I saw my mom washing her face with tears. Confused, I asked, "Mom, aren't I supposed to be at college? Why was I in a car accident?"